Dear Scott,
VMP submitted a Transportation Impact Study (TIS) recently completed by Gorove/Slade to the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) 45-days in advance of the first scheduled PUD hearing for McMillan. There is also a six-page summary with diagrams of street improvements recommended for First Street NW, North Capitol Street and Michigan Avenue.
The purpose of the TIS is to compare future conditions around the site, analyzing those conditions with and without the proposed McMillan redevelopment to determine if the PUD will have a detrimental impact. AND to develop recommendations to mitigate the impact and improve transportation conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and people driving to and from home or work.
We held a discussion at the last McMillan Advisory Group, where Gorove/Slade presented the study and members of the MAG and meeting attendees submitted questions that will be published on the Envision McMillan website. We will alert you when the questions are published.
In the meantime, please join us on Thursday, April 3rd at 7PM at All Nations Baptist Church (corner of North Capitol Street & Rhode Island Avenue, NE) for a community-wide presentation of our Transportation Impact Study with Gorove/Slade.
If you’re unable to attend our meeting, please send email questions to info@envisionmcmillan.com and we will absolutely answer them. We look forward to seeing you April 3 rd!
Sincerely,
Tania Jackson
Vision McMillan Partners
www.envisionmcmillan.com
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Hi Tania, i have seen it and I was struck that most of Bloomingdale wasn't even taken into account. In fact, beside the single issue of 1st street, nothing in between Channing and Rhode Island on N. Capitol was taken into account.
ReplyDeleteThe traffic study showed the greatest new "load" being north 1st street right at the entrance to the new row houses and the employee entrance to the site. Even this study shows that 1st street is going to get much more traffic than before. So imagine if 1st street north is a giant dogs breakfast every morning and there is a 20min traffic jam to get out to Michigan Ave (which is partly the case already). The folks on W. street (where i live), Adams and other streets will be compelled (but not forced) to exit directly onto N. Capitol to go northbound. It is currently possible, but i've personally seen massive accidents occur in that area where high speed traffic exits the Rhode Island overpass tunnel without really seeing the folks exiting from W or Adams on N. Capitol. I predict there will be lots of nasty accidents in those areas if there isn't some measure to slow speed up N. Capitol. Unfortunately, this traffic plan doesn't have anything like that until you get much farther north (additional lights or turn lanes). Basically all of north Bloomingdale will be compelled to take their chances shooting out onto N. Capitol or sit in traffic on 1st street or go up to Bryant and over to the light to get onto N. Capitol, but i imagine that area will just be blocked up too. We've seen Columbia Heights...no reason to think this will be any better. In any case, this study is so "macro" as it really doesn't look at the most immediate impacts on the surrounding communities. I think that this is a major oversight.
How does the TIS address transit concerns?
ReplyDeleteThe "TIS concludes that existing transit serving the site is heavily
used and overcapacity, and that new transit trips from
McMillan and other sources will make the existing
problems worse. " Typical of the load of crap that "smart growth" is all about,, cause it is really "all growth", and "any growth". Like the way VMP are just covering the historic park with construction and leaving a little "McPark" where a large important "Great Place" used to be. NOMA is where your going, uglier. Do we really swallow this garbage whole? The "Coalition for Smarter Growth", the smallest coalition in the world, is VMP big booster. Jamie Fontaine is also a booster, but they get paid to support VMP, as they subvert our genuine grassroots opposition.You need Fontaine because the opposition is strong and growing, and you are unethical, and fabricate support where it doesn't exist. Smart Growth my ass, VMP doesn't create the planning or "right-of-way" for a street car,, busses,a McMillan Shuttle ,, oh god. Barry, and Tania, why support a project , and go to PUD, and Zoning when the city council, should and rightfully will reject the surplus. Is the process so fixed? Our $billion park, given to this talentless UNETHICAL development conglomerate by corrupt city officials. STOP THE SURPLUS, it is public land for our use, not a corrupt DC govt/corporate "give away". Why do they take our taxes to support this process that will be stopped? Go re-develop the Washington Hospital center VMP, we need that to stop the flooding! Go re-develop the forlorn shopping area at the Rhode Island Ave. Metro, like REAL SMART GROWTH. Go put your condos along the Red L'ine in all that derelict industrial space,,,,or derelict houses...YOU HAVE THE WHOLE THING BACKWARDS! We need McMillan underground for food production, and VMP plans to demolish the 20 cres underground and pave over the park. STPUID? see this video n "urban indoor agriculture" The Sustainable McMillan Park is for your kids future..get real Tania, Barry, you are wrong! see this video: http://youtu.be/ILzWmw53Wwo